Fluid-circulating means



June 1929. J. E.BURKHARDT FLUID GIRCULATING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 17, 1927 T+|11||I||lll Fla! INVENTOR Jafizlzllbzamafi BY ATTORNE June 11, 1929. J. E. BURKHARDT 1,717,088

FLUID CIRCULATING MEANS Filed March 17, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 x 1 ll) 0 N N N (u m 2 Jam 11mm June 11, 1929.

' J. E. BURKHARDT FLUID CIRCULATING MEANS Filed March 17,. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I NVENTOR Jam l7 flay/Zara? fi f TTORNEY Patented June 11, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT: OFFICE.

JOHN E. BURKHARDT, QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO BETHLEHEM SHIP- BUILDING CORPORATION.

FLUID-CIRCULATING MEANS.

Application filed March 17, 1927.

My invention relates to a mechanism for cirtailating fluid through a syst m, wherein a main, itluid impelling means is supplemented by an auxiliary means, whenever the rate of flow due to the main means is insutlicient. More specifically, it relates to an arrangement of means whereby the movement of a vessel over a body of water forces water through a circulation system, there being an auxiliary, power driven impeller to supplement the impulsion due to the movement of the vessel, when for any reason, the latter is insutlicient.

My invention consists of a system for circulating fluid having means for impclling fluid through a conduit, an auxiliary, power driven impeller, reacting with the stream flow, when idle. so as to be moved into a non-obstructing position, but when positively driven, so reacting wit h the fluid as to be returned into an operati ve position.

hile, in the description which follows, the specific embodiments used for illustrating my invention are directed to condenser cooling systems, wherein a vessel by its movement scoops up water and forces it through the condensers, ,it is to be clearly understood that my invention in its broader aspects is not limited to such applications of the inventive thought, but is applicable to any fluid circulating system.

Referring to the drawings which, diagrammatically present two embodiments of my invention Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation of a portion of a ship showing a steam condenser in combination with av scoop and conduits for carrying the water to and from the condenser together wit-han auxiliary impeller;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the ship, on the line 22 of Fig. 1, showing this equipment in duplicate;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on a larger scale, showing a portion of the conduit from the scoop to the condenser, together with the auxiliary impeller;

Fig. 4; is an enlarged transverse view, partly in section, of the mechanism for driving the auxiliary impeller;

Fig.5 is a transverse view of the auxiliary impeller;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the end of the pump shaft extending outside of the conduit; and e Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of a portion Serial No. 175,972.

of the conduit and the auxiliary impeller in a modification.

An ordinary condense-r 1 receives water from the body over which the vessel is passing by means of scoop 2 which projects from the skin of the ship 3, the movement of the vessel forcing the water up through the conduit 4 which comprises the more or less restricted duct 5 and the enlarged portion 7, where it joins the condenser. From the condenser the water passes overboard through ducts 8 and 6. The inlet and outlet connections are provided respectively with shut-off valves 9 and 10.

To supplement the propulsion of water through the condenser, when for any reason the flow of water due to the movement of the vessel becomes insufficient, or to take the place thereof when, for example, the vessel is driven astern, there is provided a power driven impeller 11. This impeller is fixed at the end of shaft 12, being secured on the tapered end. 13 thereof by means of key 14 and nut 15.

Shaft 12 is journaled. in bearings 16 and 17 located within duct 5, these hearings being rubber lined or of any construction suitable for running in water. A gland l8 and packing 19 are provided to prevent leakage at the point where the shaft passes through the wall of duct 5.

Shaft 12 passes through the hub of worn wheel 20 with which it is constrained to rotate, the structure for this purpose consisting of a squared portion 21 of shaft 12 which fits into a correspondingly shaped hole 22 in the worm wheel hub, the squared portion 21 of the shaft being of smaller diameter than the body of the shaft so that a shoulder 23 is provided. \Vhile constrained to rotate with the worm wheel the shaft is free to slide axially with respect thereto between certain limits. The projecting portion 24 of the shaft is of smaller diameter than portion 21. Hand wheel 25 is journaled on portion 24 and is secured thereto by means of washer 26 and nut' 27 Shoulder 23 and hand wheel 25 in conjunction with facings on the hub of wheel 20 serve to limit the axial movement of shaft 12 relative to worm wheel 20.

This worm wheel is journaled in bearings 28 with thrust facings 29 formed in the two halves 30 and 31 of the gear housing, of which the lower half 30 may be integral with duct 5 as shown. Wheel 20 meshes with worm 32 which is integral with worm shaft- 33. This latter shaft is journaled in bearings 34- and secured in housing 31, and is provided with suitable thrust collars 36 and 37.

orin shaft 33 extends through the wall of the gear housing and is driven by a steam turbine 38 connected to shaft 33 through a flexible coupling 39. The interior parts of the turbine are so arranged that when steam is admitted worm shaft 33, worm wheel 20, shaft 12 and impeller 11 rotate in the directions shown by the curved arrows in Figs. 3 and 4.

The manner of operation of my invention is as follows:

Valves 9 and 10 are. normally open, being closed onlywhen the vessel is not in operation. Let it be assumed that the vessel is moving ahead in the direction shown by arrow in, Figs. 1 and 3 and that scoop 2 is forcing a sufficient stream of water into condenser 1 through the conduit 4, and thence overboard through ducts 8 and 6. Under these circumstances the steam connection to turbine 38 will be closed, and the shaft 12 will not be positively driven. The flow of water past impeller 11 will cause rotation thereof and produce a thrust on face 41, causing the impeller and shaft to slide axially in the direction of arrow 42, as indicated in Fig. 3, until hand wheel 25 comes into contact with the hub of worm wheel 20, as shown in dotted lines. The impeller is then in the enlarged portion 7 of the conduit, as shown by dotted lines, and offers much less resistance to the flow of water from the scoop to the condenser, the quantity thereby supplied to the condenser being materially greater than if the impeller were to remain in its original position within duct 5.

Since the velocity of the water in portion 7 is much less than in duct 5, the tendency of the water to turn the impeller is greatly reduced. 7

If new the engines of the vessel are reversed and the vessel is driven astern, in the direction of arrow -12 as shown in Fig. 1, the

movement will no longer cause water to be forced through the condenser. Steam is now admitted to turbine 38, causing rotation of the impeller in the direction shown by the curved arrow, or increasing the speed of rotation, if the impeller is alread rotating. When the speed of rotation is sufficiently great there is developed, on the after face 43 of the impeller, a thrust which causes it, to-

' gether with the shaft 12, to slide axially forward into position shown in full lines, in which position shoulder 23 on shaft 12 is in contact with the facing within the hub of worm wheel 20. The continued rotation of the impeller will now pump water from the sea through the conduit into the condenser and thence overboard through ducts 8 and 6.

Obviously the auxiliary impeller may be used at other times; it being clear that it may be employed at any time when the propulsion of water due to the movement of the vessel is insufficient. Obviously it may be used even when the vessel is going ahead to assist the action of the scoop. Assuming, as before, that the vessel is moving in the direction of arrow 40 andsteam is shut off from turbine 38, water being impelled through the conduit into the condenser by the action of scoop 2, impeller 11 being in the position shown by dotted lines and not rotating, or rotating slowly in the direction shown by the curved arrow. If steam is now admitted to the turbine 38 it would'ca-use the impeller to rotate inthedirection of the curved arrow or would increase its. speed if it is already rotating. The thrust developed on the after face of 4-3 of the impeller would cause it and the shaft- 12 to slide into the position of full lines as previously set forth. The impeller now impartsto the water on which it acts an additi onal momentum in the direction of the condenser and will thereby increase the flow of water from the sea.

It is clear from the foregoing that when the impeller not being driven the flow of the water past it will bring about a reaction between it and the water so as to cause it to assume the inoperative and non-obstructing position shown. by dotted lines, while the positive driving of the impeller will cause it to react with the fluid to cause it to return to the operative position shown by full lines.

The position of the impeller within the conduit is always apparent from the position of handwheel 25. If'because of excessive friction in the mechanism, the impeller does not promptly assume the desired position it may be assisted manually by taking hold of the hand wheel 25 and pushing or pulling axially as required. To this end the hand wheel is iournaled on shaft 12 as above indicated so that when it is handled it does not rot-ate with the shaft. Obviously, where friction conditions are such that manual assistance is not necessary the hand wheel may be replaced by a suitable collar or any other means for limiting the axial motion of the shaft.

In the modification shown in Fi 7 structure is indicated whereby the axial movement of the impeller is effected ithout its supporting shaft partaking of the movement. Impeller 11 instead of being liXcd to shaft 12' is slidably splined thereto and therefore may move along such shaft between bearings 16 and 16, these being the limits of the axial movement. The connection between shaft 12' and the turbine is similar to that in the form already described. except that the shaft is so keyed to worm wheel 20 that it is prevented from axial movement relative to the wheel. In this embodiment of the invention, when the impeller is idle the flow of the water reacts therewith to cause Cir it to move along the shaft into its inoperative, non-obstructing position, shown in the dotted lines. hen the turbine is put in operation and the shaft 12 positively driven the rotation of the impeller so reacts with the water as to cause the impeller to slide into the operative pos' "ion.

In thus describing these specific embodiments of the invention, it is not intended to limit the protection sought tor, especially in its broader aspects, to condenser cooling systems. Morei'iver, it is not intended that the broader claims should be limited to devices in which one of the flow flllil mlllllg means is due to the movement of a vessel or other body. Obviously, the invention in its broader as pects is applicable to circulation systems in which various types of pumps are employed to force liquid through a conduit or other body. As above pointed out, it is considered that the invention broadly is in the idea of a C'OlIllJlllilblOIl of fluid in'ipelling means, one supplementing the other. and being automatically movable into and out of operative position depending upon whether or not it is positively driven.

Certain expressions used in the description and claims are not to be given too restrictive a construction. For example, when referring to the auxiliary impeller as being idle it is not intended necessarily to mean that this impeller has no movement whatever, but that it is not being positively driven. lVhen one oi the fluid impelling means is referred to as supplemental it is not to be taken necessarily to mean that it acts in a subordinate or to a lesser extent than the other, but merely that to a. certain extent each aids or supplenients the other.

Vhile I have shown my invention in a plurality ot forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I desire to claim is as follows:

1. In a fluid circulation system, a conduit having a greater cross-sectional area following a lesser along the line of flow, power driven means for positively impelling fluid through the conduit, a supplemental flow impeller mounted to he movable from a place of one cross-sectional area to a place of a difl'erent cross-sectional area, means for driving the supplemental impeller, said impeller when idle being moved by the action of the stream flow into a place of greater cross-sectional area and when positively driven reacting with the fluid to move into a place of lesser cross-sectional area.

2. In a fluid circulation system, a conduit having a greater cross-sectional area following a lesser along the line of flow, power driven means for positively impelling fluid through the conduit, a supplemental flow iin peller mounted to be movable from a place of one cross-sectional. area to a place of a. different cross-sectional area, means for driving the supplemental impeller, means whereby the supplemental impeller when idle reacts with the stream flow to be moved to a place of greater crosssectional area and when positively driven be moved. to a place of lesser cross-sectional area.

In a circulation system, primary power driven means for positively forcing liquid through a conduit, supplemental means com prising a rotary impeller within the conduit, longitudinally movable between limits, means tor driving the rotary impeller independent of the said primary means, and means whereby the stream flow due to the primary means reacts with the rotary impeller when idle to move it to a place of greater cross-sectional area of the conduit, and means whereby the rotary impeller reacts with the fluid upon being positively driven to be returned to a place of lesser cross-sectional area.

4. In a marine engine installation, a cooling system having inlet and outlet conduits, a scoop at the entrance of the inlet conduit, a shaft extending through. the wall of the illlet conduit, an impeller within said conduit, said impeller being constrained to rotate with said shaft, but free toslide axially between parts of the conduit having different crosssectional areas, and means whereby said impeller reacts with the fluid to be moved into the greater cross-sectional area when idle and to be moved into the lesser cross-section al area when positively driven.

5. In a marine engine installation, a cooling system having inlet and outlet conduits, a scoop at the entrance of the inlet conduit, for effecting a flow of liquid therethrough upon movement through a body of liquid, a flow impeller in the inlet conduit, means for driving the impeller, means for rendering the impeller relatively non-obstructive to flow when idle, and means for restoring the impeller to operative condition when positively driven.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JOHN E. BURKHARDT. 

